Gov. Mifflin senior Kali Baldino had just gotten through flashing a few wide smiles after discussing her big goal and her team’s important victory when her expression quickly shifted to concern.

Which was understandable, considering all of a sudden she was talking about an injury to a fellow senior.

The lasting image from Gov. Mifflin’s 1-0 victory over Exeter in a Berks Girls Soccer League Berks I battle Wednesday at Don Thomas Stadium was not Baldino’s goal or the back-and-forth battle between two evenly matched teams.

It was seeing Gov. Mifflin senior Tara Ludwig being carried off the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

It was seeing the emotional reaction of many of the Mustangs as Ludwig was tended to on the field.

It was seeing just how much the Mustangs respected and cared for their inspirational leader.

Ludwig was playing a whale of a game when her night, and perhaps season, ended.

But Ludwig’s teammates fulfilled her wish and finished off a critical victory to put themselves alone in second place in the division.

“Yeah, it is a bittersweet night, for sure,” Baldino said. “Tara is a really big part of our team. We are really going to miss her. We all are just hoping that she is going to be OK. We really, really need her.”

“Tara is a role model,” Gov. Mifflin coach Ed Deren said. “Her work ethic on the field, what she does off the field . . . she is just a great kid. It was tough. Real tough.”

Entering the game Gov. Mifflin, Exeter and Twin Valley were in a second-place tie in the division. With their victory, coupled with the Raiders’ loss to Wilson, the Mustangs (6-3-1, 7-6-1) moved into sole possession of second place.